Our Proper Response to God’s Marvellous Mercies

 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.”  Out of all that God has created in the universe, the most intimate connection He has is with mankind who have chosen to be in Christ.  In the new covenant, the sacrificial system no longer involves dead animals, but living people.  We are not called to accommodate ourselves to the opinions, desires and interests of others because as a living sacrifice we died Christ’s death and are now alive to God.  We are called to be led by the Holy Spirit as we meditate on God’s Word because it reveals His will.  Let’s be obedient to God’s good, acceptable and perfect will.  Amen!

We Keep Our Gaze on the Risen & Victorious Christ

 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesied God’s promise, “Do not yield to fear, for I Am always near. Never turn your gaze from Me, for I Am your faithful God. I will infuse you with My strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with My Victorious Right Hand.’”  The Hebrew for “Don’t be frightened” also means “to gaze”.  These are the same words that Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”  In the new covenant, we gaze at Jesus risen and victorious in all His power and glory, ready to help us when we call upon Him because He loves us more than His Life.  Let’s receive His love.  Amen!

The Mystery of Israel’s Partial Blindness

 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul was revealed, “My beloved brothers and sisters, I want to share with you a mystery concerning Israel’s future. For understanding this mystery will keep you from thinking you already know everything. A partial and temporary hardening to the Gospel has come over Israel, which will last until the full number of non-Jews have come into God’s family.”  This is a sacred secret revealed to Paul and therefore to us today as Paul very much wants us to know, something God has hidden from ancient times and can only be revealed by God.  Jesus taught us that these mysteries are meant for us to perceive as part of our Kingdom birthright, “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” It is this mystery - the partial insensitivity of Israel that Jesus Christ is their Messiah and  salvation.  It is part of God’s eternal plan for the nations. This stubbornness and unwillingness to learn something new from God has kept Israel from recognising their Messiah.  “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”  Let’s keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem.  Amen!

Carrying the Gospel of Peace

 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “And how can the message be proclaimed if messengers have yet to be sent? That’s why the Scriptures say: How welcome is the arrival of those proclaiming the joyful news of peace and of good things to come! But not everyone welcomes the good news, as Isaiah said: Lord, is there anyone who hears and believes our message? Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.”  The arrival of anyone carrying good news, it is always at the right time!  The prophet Isaiah and other prophets of old, prophesied,  “What a beautiful sight to behold— the precious feet of the messenger coming over the mountains to announce good news! He comes to refresh us with wonderful news, announcing salvation to Zion and saying, “Your Mighty God reigns!”  The world is getting darker but the one carrying the Gospel brings the light.  The entrance of God’s Word, the Gospel, brings light to the simple whereas the intellectuals, the powerful and the rich will not believe the report of the Lord.  God is light and in Him there’s no darkness at all.  Let’s see God’s great desire of us carrying the Gospel of peace to the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Let’s obey God.  Amen!

Walking in God’s Favour with Humility - like Jesus

 “Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭39‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Isaiah recorded, “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word YAHWEH has spoken through you is good and right.” For he thought, “At least for me, there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”  Hezekiah, the reformer, went from being a man who was favoured by God and divinely healed to one who thought only of himself.  Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.  When people walk in the favour of God and become familiar with it, they treat it with that measure of entitlement that they deserve it because they’re superior to others!  This is plain and simple pride when the heart is lifted up, just like what happened to Lucifer when he wanted to become like the Most High God.  God said to him, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”  Pride goes before destruction.  Let’s walk in the favour of God with humility just like Jesus did, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a Man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the  Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Let’s be like Jesus.  Amen!

Christ Our Precious Cornerstone

 “as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation from Isaiah’s prophecy was, “just as it is written: “Be careful! I am setting in Zion a Stone that will cause people to stumble, a Rock of offense that will make them fall, but believers in Him will not experience shame.”  To stand in faith is to stand on a Rock which is to stand in faith on the Gospel of salvation in Christ, rather than in the salvation of works.  Isaiah had warned the Jews, “The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, But a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.”  Later Isaiah prophesied what Paul told to Jews and non-Jews alike, “Here’s what the Lord God says: “Behold, I set in place in Zion a Foundation Stone, fully tested and proven to be faithful and secure. And written upon this precious Cornerstone is this: ‘Those who trust in Him will not act in haste.’”  Even if a promise delays, we will not be disheartened but will remain steadfast in faith.  Amen!

It Is Finished

 “What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these things is the life of my spirit: So wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah recorded, “But what can I say? For He has spoken to me and told me that He is the One Who has done this. I can’t sleep a wink because I’m overwhelmed with grief. Lord, it is because of Your kindness that life is given. It is in You that my spirit lives. Now restore my health and give me life again!”  When Hezekiah was told by Isaiah that he would die soon, he wept and asked to be spared and God told Isaiah to turn back and tell Hezekiah that he would live fifteen years more.  So Hezekiah praised God in gratitude and said that God Himself had done it.  These words were the same as when Jesus spoke on the Cross, “It is finished”.  This was a shadow of God’s kindness, mercy and goodness of God shown in this act of gracious love that Christ took the sicknesses of all humanity on the Cross and finished it.  Those who believe, receive it but those who question it, it will pass them by. As Isaiah prophesied, “He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”  This truth is still healing people today, two thousand years after this event, by those who simply believe it.  Amen!

Manifesting of the Sons of God

 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul was given this revelation, “The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!”  With such intense anticipation is this waiting, that it’s like craning your neck because it is about to happen!  The created universe is but a backdrop for the dramatic appearing of God’s sons and daughters unveiled with the glory of Jesus Christ upon them.  This “unveiling” is imminent, soon to happen, and destined to take place.  Christ’s glory will come to us, enter us, fill us, envelop us, and then be revealed through us as partakers of the glory.  Although God will not share His glory with any other, we are no longer “another”, for we are one with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through faith in Christ.  Jesus prayed, “I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as You and I, Father, are joined together as One. I pray for them to become One with us so that the world will recognize that You sent Me.  For the very glory You have given to Me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that We enjoy. You live fully in Me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that You have sent Me, for they will see that You love each one of them with the same passionate love that You have for Me.”  What a privilege to be one with God.  Amen!

God Is Forever True to His Word

 “And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭37‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah recorded, “They told him, “Here is Hezekiah’s message: ‘This is a day of great anguish, rebuke, and humiliation. We are desperate, as in the day a woman is in heavy labor but has no strength left to give birth.”  Hezekiah brought the situation to Isaiah’s notice of the Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem and they were unprepared for the oncoming onslaught.  At that time Isaiah gave Hezekiah God’s comfort to not fear and the king believed God and shortly thereafter the Assyrian king and his army retreated and the Assyrian king was murdered by his own sons.  Isaiah went on to prophesy, “Who has ever seen or heard of such a wonder? Could a country be born in a day? Can a nation be birthed so suddenly? Yet no sooner does Zion go into labor than she gives birth to sons!”  Paul also said, “The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! For against its will the universe itself has had to endure the empty futility resulting from the consequences of human sin. But now, with eager expectation, all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children.”  God birthed His children through the Cross and the nation of Israel was birthed in one day in the twentieth century.  God is forever true to His Word, let’s just trust Him always.  Amen!

The Higher Law of Love Through Christ’s Cross

 “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “For we know that the law is divinely inspired and comes from the spiritual realm, but I am a human being made of flesh and trafficked as a slave under sin’s authority. I’m a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn.”  Here Paul is identifying with the people of Israel under the law prior to receiving Christ, as the one delivered from the bondage of sin, but yet knowing the condemnation that law brings.  Though the law of God is spiritual and can never be changed but the Cross of Christ is the higher for it delivers us from condemnation.  Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  All those who come to the Cross and receive forgiveness are under no condemnation for the Blood of Christ eliminates sin and makes us righteous.  Amen!